Family members of recipients and senior Obama administration officials surrounded the stage where the honorees sat, laughing as the president discussed the most notable accomplishments of each honoree. "Ellen counters what too often divides us," Obama said of DeGeneres, a gay comedian who he commended for coming out on such a public stage nearly 20 years ago. The president recognized NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabber for standing up for his Muslim faith "when it wasn't easy and it wasn't popular."